Patriots Advance To AFC Championship.FOXBOROUGH - In preparation for the New England Patriots last night's game against the AFC divisional playoff Denver Broncos on Thursday began to decline, there were some curious events at Gillette Stadium: Bill Belichick was really happy in his pre-practice conference media after practice, defensive captain Jerod Mayo admitted that he felt he and his companions were better prepared for their second meeting against Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
May echoed the words spoken a day earlier by offensive lineman Brian Waters.
It's not often that the Patriots tip his hand, even slightly. But the comments of Water and May, Belichick's sunny disposition and a sense of optimism in the locker room on Thursday, everything pointed to a club of confidence.
Trust became the domain of the Sabbath.
New England ended the Cinderella season and Tebow with a win 45-10 Broncos, a wire to wire victory that sent the Patriots game in the AFC Championship next Sunday against either Baltimore or Houston.
It is the sixth conference championship game appearance in New England during the era of Bill Belichick.
The win was the Patriots' first three playoff games against the Broncos and the team also completed three-game postseason losing streak. Before last night, winning the Patriots in the playoffs last game was the 2007 AFC title in San Diego.
Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 363 yards, an NFL postseason record six touchdowns, and had a pretty nice punt, while Tebow completed just nine passes and was basically running for his life for much of the night.
The Patriots cleared a hurdle early, find a way to banish the disturbing pattern of slow start last night's AFC divisional round duel with the Broncos, taking a 35-7 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Denver won the toss and elected to defer, and the Patriots got the ball to open the game a second time this season. Scored less than two minutes, covering 80 yards in five plays a neat - 8 yards through the center of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 5 yards per carry Green-Ellis, 17-yard Rob Gronkowski, then a carry of 43 Aaron Hernandez yards.
Hernandez lined up in the line of scrimmage in the game, and Brady turned the ball as if it were a versatile tight corridor. Hernandez bobbled the ball behind the line of scrimmage, but said they already were.
The sophomore star had a week of practice and took him into the game with 87 yards from the line of scrimmage in the first half.
Brady found Wes Welker on the next play, and Welker got into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.
It was the first time the Patriots scored first in a game since Vince Wilfork, the only member of the defense of New England, which was in the field to win the last playoff team in the AFC Championship in 2007, fell in a fumble in the end zone against the Redskins last month.
With the Broncos driving on their first possession - which picked up 14 yards on third and 5 in a fight Tebow, then 19 in a career of Willis McGahee, put them in the territory of New England - Rob Ninkovich strip-sacked Tebow on second down.
Brandon Spikes has the ball, and New England took charge of their own 41.
Brady and the offensive of the seven works required at this time, but the result was the same touchdown. Rob Gronkowski is the honors, breaking the Field Turf, playing the ball, sure, and slip a few meters.
The 14-0 start was in stark contrast to the final weeks of the regular season, when New England was often in the early holes. Against Miami and Buffalo, at weeks 16 and 17, 17-0 and 21-0 were dropped, respectively, before returning to win; the Patriots were also behind early Denver and Philadelphia.
About the blunder only to the Patriots in the first half came in possession of third place, when a wandering fire Brady became an easy interception to rookie safety Quinton Carter.
From the New England 24 after selection, Denver got its only point average, a 5-yard touchdown McGahee, who is wanted on the goal line on the first play of the second quarter.
Not to be outdone, New England scored three times in the second quarter, all passes from Brady. The first was to Gronkowski, a reception of 12 yards, the second was a nice 61-yarder to Deion Branch, who missed last month's meeting with the Broncos, because of a groin injury, and another Gronkowski, of 19 yards in the half.
As he handed the Broncos defense, Brady and Gronkowski set some NFL records: Brady passed Dan Marino for fifth all-time in postseason passing yards, passing touchdowns and five in the first half were also a postseason. Gronkowski three touchdown receptions set a team record in a season post-season and made him the player 17 in league history with three touchdowns in a playoff game, although only the second tight end - the first was Dave Casper.
The Patriots' defense, which played very well, was not challenged against the pass: Tebow completed only three of 10 shots to 28 yards.
New England just added 10 points in the second half but did not need them. Denver had a field goal in the third quarter and stayed out of the end zone from 3 in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots Ravens-Texans watch game Sunday at 1 pm to see his opponent January 22 at Gillette Stadium. New England faced one of the teams during the regular season.
May echoed the words spoken a day earlier by offensive lineman Brian Waters.
It's not often that the Patriots tip his hand, even slightly. But the comments of Water and May, Belichick's sunny disposition and a sense of optimism in the locker room on Thursday, everything pointed to a club of confidence.
Trust became the domain of the Sabbath.
New England ended the Cinderella season and Tebow with a win 45-10 Broncos, a wire to wire victory that sent the Patriots game in the AFC Championship next Sunday against either Baltimore or Houston.
It is the sixth conference championship game appearance in New England during the era of Bill Belichick.
The win was the Patriots' first three playoff games against the Broncos and the team also completed three-game postseason losing streak. Before last night, winning the Patriots in the playoffs last game was the 2007 AFC title in San Diego.
Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 363 yards, an NFL postseason record six touchdowns, and had a pretty nice punt, while Tebow completed just nine passes and was basically running for his life for much of the night.
The Patriots cleared a hurdle early, find a way to banish the disturbing pattern of slow start last night's AFC divisional round duel with the Broncos, taking a 35-7 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Denver won the toss and elected to defer, and the Patriots got the ball to open the game a second time this season. Scored less than two minutes, covering 80 yards in five plays a neat - 8 yards through the center of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 5 yards per carry Green-Ellis, 17-yard Rob Gronkowski, then a carry of 43 Aaron Hernandez yards.
Hernandez lined up in the line of scrimmage in the game, and Brady turned the ball as if it were a versatile tight corridor. Hernandez bobbled the ball behind the line of scrimmage, but said they already were.
The sophomore star had a week of practice and took him into the game with 87 yards from the line of scrimmage in the first half.
Brady found Wes Welker on the next play, and Welker got into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.
It was the first time the Patriots scored first in a game since Vince Wilfork, the only member of the defense of New England, which was in the field to win the last playoff team in the AFC Championship in 2007, fell in a fumble in the end zone against the Redskins last month.
With the Broncos driving on their first possession - which picked up 14 yards on third and 5 in a fight Tebow, then 19 in a career of Willis McGahee, put them in the territory of New England - Rob Ninkovich strip-sacked Tebow on second down.
Brandon Spikes has the ball, and New England took charge of their own 41.
Brady and the offensive of the seven works required at this time, but the result was the same touchdown. Rob Gronkowski is the honors, breaking the Field Turf, playing the ball, sure, and slip a few meters.
The 14-0 start was in stark contrast to the final weeks of the regular season, when New England was often in the early holes. Against Miami and Buffalo, at weeks 16 and 17, 17-0 and 21-0 were dropped, respectively, before returning to win; the Patriots were also behind early Denver and Philadelphia.
About the blunder only to the Patriots in the first half came in possession of third place, when a wandering fire Brady became an easy interception to rookie safety Quinton Carter.
From the New England 24 after selection, Denver got its only point average, a 5-yard touchdown McGahee, who is wanted on the goal line on the first play of the second quarter.
Not to be outdone, New England scored three times in the second quarter, all passes from Brady. The first was to Gronkowski, a reception of 12 yards, the second was a nice 61-yarder to Deion Branch, who missed last month's meeting with the Broncos, because of a groin injury, and another Gronkowski, of 19 yards in the half.
As he handed the Broncos defense, Brady and Gronkowski set some NFL records: Brady passed Dan Marino for fifth all-time in postseason passing yards, passing touchdowns and five in the first half were also a postseason. Gronkowski three touchdown receptions set a team record in a season post-season and made him the player 17 in league history with three touchdowns in a playoff game, although only the second tight end - the first was Dave Casper.
The Patriots' defense, which played very well, was not challenged against the pass: Tebow completed only three of 10 shots to 28 yards.
New England just added 10 points in the second half but did not need them. Denver had a field goal in the third quarter and stayed out of the end zone from 3 in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots Ravens-Texans watch game Sunday at 1 pm to see his opponent January 22 at Gillette Stadium. New England faced one of the teams during the regular season.
0 comments:
Post a Comment